On B List of Movie Reviews

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The Big Heat (1953)

Rate: 5
Viewed: 7/14, 10/25

BigH
7/14: Having seen some of Fritz Lang's pictures, The Big Heat actually rises above his crap but is still hokey.

Glenn Ford should mostly share the blame with the director because he's a bland actor who's not right for the role. His character is on a hate binge? Stop trying to make me laugh. Glenn Ford will never be as tough as Humphrey Bogart or Richard Widmark.

As for the rest of the cast, Gloria Grahame isn't bad but can do much more. The pre-silver-haired Lee Marvin shows potential that he'll make most out of in later films. Everybody looks overdressed, and the dialogue doesn't sound up to par, either.

All in all, The Big Heat is too ridiculous to be taken seriously as a film noir.

10/25: The Big Heat is a slow noir picture at the hands of Fritz Lang.

Although the writing is 70% there, the editing needs to be tighter. Most of the scenes between Glenn Ford and Jocelyn Brando can be safely cut out. I predicted the wife would die in a car bomb after she caught the keys in the air. The husband is on a "hate binge"? Ha! Glenn Ford is underwhelming much of the time and needs to learn how to be tougher.

I thought at first Gloria Grahame and Lee Marvin were stealing the film, but they became less effective over time. The most famous scene is when he threw a pot of hot coffee on her. Fritz Lang didn't disappoint when he showed Gloria Grahame's face afterwards.

All in all, The Light Heat is more like it.